Woman fends off parking lot attack, helps track down suspect

Friday

Nov 30, 2007 at 12:01 AMNov 30, 2007 at 1:14 AM

A Cabool man is behind bars after finding himself on the wrong side of the law for the second time in a week. The most recent arrest was made Thursday around 2 a.m. after he allegedly attacked a woman in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Camdenton. WITH SIDEBAR (see Related Content)

Charis Patires

A Cabool man is behind bars after finding himself on the wrong side of the law for the second time in a week.
The most recent arrest was made Thursday around 2 a.m. after he allegedly attacked a woman in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Camdenton.
Eric D. Sawyer, 30, has been charged with felonious restraint and trespassing after the assault of a 23-year-old woman as she returned to her parked car.
Sawyer had been arrested just two days earlier for trespassing at a residence in Camden County. Deputies took him to jail around 9 p.m. Nov. 27 after he locked two people out of their own home.
One of individuals had met Sawyer online, went to pick him up and brought him back to the lake. While at her home, the pair got into an argument. Sawyer called authorities, but when they arrived, he was placed under arrest for trespassing.
Within hours of being released on a summons to appear in court, Sawyer allegedly attacked the woman in the store’s parking lot as she was walking back to her car after putting a shopping cart away, according to a press release issued Thursday by the Camdenton Police Department.
Sawyer reportedly put his hand over her mouth and pushed her in between her car and another vehicle.
The woman screamed and began to struggle. The release said he told her to shut up, but she continued to fight back.
Sawyer let go and fled. The victim ran after him calling out for help.
A Wal-Mart employee and two bystanders also began chasing the Sawyer.
When authorities arrived, they searched the area and located Sawyer near a dirt road behind the business. He was taken to Lake Regional Hospital for treatment of cuts to his hand and wrists sustained while running through the woods.
He was taken to the Camden County Jail. Bond was set at $250,000 for the felonious restraint charge and $10,000 for trespassing.
As of press time, Sawyer had not been charged with trespassing from Tuesday’s incident.
Contact this reporter at charisp@lakesunleader.com.